Cheapest NEW small cars in the UK

MrsE_2

Inactive wrote: »

There is sadly, no such thing as a " safe " car, also any car once registered is no longer " new ".

I agree with Looby-Loo, far better to buy a used, and reliable older Japanese car without the need to get in to debt.

Not what you want to hear, I'm sure, but just my 2p worth.;)

For her purposes (& indeed the majority of buyers) a pre-reg car is still new.

Its not had an owner who uses it on the road.

Cars have an Ncap rating, a car with a goof ncap rating is safest - I'm unsure what you mean by this?

Inactive

MrsE wrote: »

Cars have an Ncap rating, a car with a goof ncap rating is safest - I'm unsure what you mean by this?

Quite simply, any N Cap rating doesn't make any car safe, if driven badly.

Any vehicle is only as safe as the driver.

MrsE_2

Inactive wrote: »

Quite simply, any N Cap rating doesn't make any car safe, if driven badly.

Any vehicle is only as safe as the driver.

I really don't see the relevance to this thread, she hasn't even passed her test yet, but I assume when she does she will be a safe considerate driver.

I think we all know that people have car crashes & they can be nasty.

DealDrivers_company_representative

You really need to be careful how you are comparing 'new' prices.....there are two ways a car can be pre-registered, one is legitimate, the other isn't. The vast majority are not done in a way that's been authorised by the car manufacturer and you'll find the logbook may be witheld from your daughter for 3-6mths (as they aren't supposed to be selling the cars yet so they have to keep the V5 in their own name rather than allow the buyer's name to be registered on it).

As this is a first car you need to be VERY wary here as some insurers have an issue with this kind of arrangement and will not validate an insurance claim if your daughter has claimed to be the registered owner on her application form, but the DVLA's records don't match that claim. We don't touch ANY car that has logbook retention on it as it simply should not be happening and most buyers don't realise the risks...they are just blinded by the 'brand new cheap car' advertising.

One of the best bargains at the moment if you want to launch her into a brand new car to get her 'on the right road' (excuse the pun!) is the Chevrolet Matiz...our dealers have them properly brand new (not pre registered) starting at £4,713 for a 0.8 S Matiz in solid paints..and the road tax on that one is only £35pa.

Hintza

I can understand someone wanting a new car but would certainly not be put off by pre-reg.

The best deals you are likely to get are when manufacturers are bringing out a facelift model.

Keep an eye on the honestjohn site he runs a weekly deals section and if you read that regularly you should get an idea of how prices are moving.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/

Inactive

The relevance was purely on the basis that you required a " safe " car, my point was that there is no such thing as a " safe " car.

As you proved with your Toyota....;)

MrsE_2

Inactive wrote: »

The relevance was purely on the basis that you required a " safe " car, my point was that there is no such thing as a " safe " car.

As you proved with your Toyota....;)

Actually I think I proved a Toyota is a very safe car.

I spun it all over the road, hit the ditch, spun again, ran it straight down the ditch at a 45 degree angle & spun it again.

Car ended up nose down, with the back wheels in the air, I had to be helped out of it by a passerby (more shock than anything) & partly because of the angle & the deep ditch & steep bank.

Car was a total right off, I was shocked, a little bruised & stiff muscles but other than that fine.

So actually I think little Toyotas are great cars:D

MrsE_2

Inactive wrote: »

The relevance was purely on the basis that you required a " safe " car, my point was that there is no such thing as a " safe " car.

As you proved with your Toyota....;)

By buying new you get the most up to date safety equiptment available on that model.

I assume you've noticed car manufactures constantly spend millions in new safety developing & equiping cars with their latest & best safety technology;)

Inactive

MrsE wrote: »

By buying new you get the most up to date safety equiptment available on that model.

I assume you've noticed car manufactures constantly spend millions in new safety developing & equiping cars with their latest & best safety technology;)

No argument with any of that, however none of it makes a " safe " car, there simply is no such thing.

The weakest componont of any car is the nut behind the wheel.;)

Idiophreak

MrsE wrote: »

I think you've been really lucky.

My experience of second hand cars is you go out one morning & it don't start.

I know this is really not the point of the thread (as you outline in OP), but I really think it's a case that you've been unlucky with used cars, not the other way round.

If you buy, say, a low-milage car around a year old from a main dealer, you'll have 2 years left on the factory warranty, it'll be serviced before you get it, you still won't have to pay MOT for a couple of years and, if you shop carefully, you probably wouldn't know it had been driven. (plus, you'll likely get the next service, road side assistance etc thrown in) - in short, you get all of the support you get for a new car, just for 6 months or a year less - and save bundles.

I was very much "I want a new car" when I went out to get my first one...but then I saw what you get new and what you get for the same money 6 months old and it really was a simple decision. My car was 8 months old when I bought it, 4k on the clock, as-new inside. I got about 40-45% off the "new" price.

If it were me, I'd want my daughter to be driving the safest car she could be with her money - and buying second hand will make her money go a lot further. You say buying new gets you the most up to date safety equipment, but stuff really doesn't change that much in 6 months or a year...I have more airbags in my car than the new ones I was looking at, better brakes, better handling, it's a better built car etc etc...

Back OT though - when's she looking to buy? Obviously traditional advice still stands afaik wrt buying just before a new plate's out...